Number of elderly people caring for loved ones has doubled in a decade, says report

Age UK and Carers UK said there were now 87,000 over-85s acting as carers

The majority of carers are over 65 and caring for a partner with little outside help

The number of elderly people caring for a loved one has doubled in the past decade, according to a new report.

Age UK and Carers UK said there were now 87,000 over-85s acting as carers.

For more than half of them, caring responsibilities take up 50 or more hours of their week, according to the charities’ new analysis.

However, despite growth in the number of carers, the support they receive from the state and the third sector is falling, with number offered services to help them cope, or even to assess their needs, dropping by 9 per cent since 2007.

The majority of carers are over 65 and caring for a partner with little outside help. Others are caring for an even older parent or taking on care of grandchildren as well.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said that the care they delivered for free was saving the country £15bn a year, but often at the expense of their own health, with many suffering anxiety and depression.

“Now action is needed to ensure older carers have the support they need so they don’t have to care alone,” she said.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: “Our ageing population presents a challenge for Government, social care services and the NHS to meet the increasing demand for care but also support the rapidly expanding numbers of older people who are themselves providing care.”